Title proper
Canadian Expeditionary Force No. 4 Siege Battery
General material designation
- Textual record
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- Source of title proper: Title based on contents.
Level of description
Fonds
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Date(s)
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1916-1919 (Creation)
Physical description
5 cm of textual records
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Administrative history
The 4th Siege Battery of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was composed of 6 officers and 187 non-commissioned officers and men from Saint John and other parts of New Brunswick. They embarked for England aboard the "S.S. Olympic" with 7000 other Canadian troops on 1 April 1916.
Arriving at Liverpool, England on 11 April 1916, they were sent to Portsmouth where they began training in guns before leaving for Boulogne, France on 29 July 1916. The unit served in several battles, including the Somme and returned to Canada in 1919. The Battery suffered 30 casualties, including an officer and 9 other ranks killed in action or died of their wounds. Decorations received by members of the 4th Siege battery included 1 D.S.O., 3 M.C.s and 2 foreign decorations. The officers were: Major Louis W. Barker (b. 1879); Captain R.A. Ring; Lt. J.A. Bruce; Lt. J.H.A. Fairweather; Lt. W.G. Kerr and Lt. G.B. Wetmore.
Frank Godsoe Wilson (1895- after 1979) was a gunner who joined the unit on 19 October 1915. After the war he became an accountant and married Marjorie Sancton of Saint John in 1924.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of records of C.E.F. No. 4 Siege Battery. A nominal roll includes regimental numbers, name of corps, name and address of next of kin, country of birth, and place and date taken on strength. Information also includes place, date and name of ship of embarkation. There is also a roll of their first muster at Clarence Barracks, Portsmouth, which includes names, hospitals and nature of illness of those not present at muster.
There is typed history of the 4th Siege Battery describing voyage from Halifax, training in England, and battles fought in France. Also included are names and locations of other units travelling with the unit from Canada. There is considerable description of combat and troop movement. A list of troop movements provides dates, places in France and Belgium, with army units at each location.
There is also a casualties book which lists names of soldiers killed in action, died of wounds, wounded, suffering from other illnesses, transferred and 4 soldiers who returned home. The locations where the soldiers were killed in action are included.
There are some records about the administration of the canteen fund and Battery Association Fund and the photocopied obituary of William Smith (1976), a member of Battery.
There is also a nominal roll of the 131st Siege Battery which includes regimental numbers, ranks and names. Some names are marked with crosses to denote death.
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Acquired from Frank Wilson, Saint John, 1979
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
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No restrictions